Giants Manager Bruce Bochy looks forward to seeing Pablo Sandoval swing the bat tonight. If the Panda looks under control and sprays some hits, he could return as the DH in Game 4. Bochy’s decision for a Game 4 DH also would hinge on whether Cliff Lee returns on short rest to pitch.

If the Rangers are down 3-0, will Manager Ron Washington come back to his ace instead of young right-hander Tommy Hunter?

“There’s a chance that anything could happen,” Washington just said. “That hypothetical, we’ll deal with it if it happens.”

Speaking of hypotheticals, here’s a doozie: What if Jose Guillen’s wife hadn’t gotten busted for (reportedly) receiving a shipment of HGH? Would Cody Ross’ huge postseason have ever happened?

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Bochy was very clear when asked about this in a private session with the beat reporters in his office: The decision to make Ross the everyday right fielder was made before learning of any allegations against Guillen.

“I told Jose this: I thought it was pretty evident he wasn’t 100 percent.” Bochy said. “he did all he could with treatment on his neck. So Cody Ross would’ve been in right field even if Jose was on the club. Jose would’ve been in more of a pinch-hitter role.”

Bochy declined comment on Guillen’s situation, but said, “In my eyes, he helped us win a couple ballgames. But the neck bothered him more than he was letting on. Once we got there (to the playoffs), I knew Cody was in right field.

“When we got him, he was swinging well. But I think the playing time caught up with him. Not having time to rest him, it probably was affecting his neck.”

One other note: Unlike Jonathan Sanchez’s Game 6 start at Philly, the Giants don’t have any starting pitchers available to back him up in the bullpen. Madison Bumgarner is pitching tomorrow and Bochy said he wouldn’t use Tim Lincecum unless “you know, emergency, game goes 16 innings.”

Andrew Baggarly

Andrew Baggarly has witnessed and documented the most eventful era in San Francisco Giants baseball history, having covered the team since 2004 for th​ree major media outlets including the San Jose Mercury News and the Oakland Tribune​. This will be his 20th season as a baseball writer.
​Baggarly is the author of the bestselling book, A Band of Misfits: Tales of the 2010 San Francisco Giants. A second title, Giant Splash, is due to be published by Triumph Books in April 2015.
Baggarly’s other notable life accomplishments include running as the Bratwurst in the Milwaukee Sausage Race and becoming a three-time Jeopardy! champion.

This lineup looks like a winner. Lets go Pablo, step up! And which Jonathan Sanchez are we going to get? Fear the Beard.

http://www.twitter.com/tjfeasby teej

Cody Ross is the everyday right fielder, silly Baggs!

DProfessor

Just win, Gigantes.

LowerBox129

I would love to go to a game six. Clinching at ATT would be the greatest party ever. But that would mean, obviously, that the rangers win two or more at home. This is a tough game for us. The Rangers will bring everything but Lee in this one. The Key will be Sanchez mentally. Because of the emotion dictated by the situation and the language issues that might be inherent in a Posey-Sanchez conversation on the mound, I hope the Giants designate either Uribe or Renteria as the guy on the field who goes over to Sanchez and calms him down when things go bad. If Sanchez keeps his head in the game, we can win this one.

Gregg

I love that you all rapped on the desk – another little tidbit that makes reading this blog a daily ritual. Thanks for the great reporting! Go Giants!!

easong

I’m with Ralph. Giants in four. The right field porch in Arlington is close, and Aubrey Huff is taking measure.

GoGiants24

Only worry is that the Texas starting pitcher is murder on RH batters. Huff to LF and Ish in as 1b might’ve been an option.

Gooooooo Giants!!!!

Waiting 30 years for a WS title. PLEASE MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!

FormerlyReadytohangmyself

Go Dirty!! Go Giants!! Huge game tonight. Let’s get this one done quick.

Www.Paapfly.com

Let’s go GIANTS!

rpuck

Enough with the Guillen tabloids! He’s not on the team. Let’s go Giants!

Less pressure for Sanchez, not a clincher like last game. But he’ll be fine anyways. Especially if Torres leads the game off with a double and Giants put a crooked number.

Gigante Fan

Pain in the neck indeed, that Guillen. If he was that lousy on HGH, I’d hate to see him without it.

Casados

Who cares about Guillen!?!? He was, is, and always will be a tool and as far as I’m concerned never was a true Giant. Back to the important headlines, Game 3. Go giants

DFA’d

I want to believe Bochy, I really do, but Guillen was in the starting lineup for 14 of the last 16 games, including the last game against Padres/Latos the day after he hit into a game-ending DP as a pinch-hitter. It means Bochy suddenly thought, “Oh, playoffs, NOW Ross is my RF” even though he was running Guillen out there in a playoff-like pennant race every day.

Ah, whatever, Guillen’s a fraud, and the baseball gods smiled on the Giants and gave Ross his time to shine.

TheCity

Gallaraga – got any quotes? What kind of smack are the Fox announcers talking about the Giants, “off air”? Just curious! I can’t stand those guys announcing work. Watching Baseball Tonight on ESPN after the games show just how bad the FOX announcers really are. The ESPN commentators are national and neutral, but they give the real story and cogent analysis.

To those of you hoping for the Giants to lose to satisfy your personal desire to attend another game this year, shame on you! You can be sure the players are not hoping for the same thing as you (losses by the Giants). They are focused on each game one at a time, trying to win that game, and trying to end the series as soon as possible.

Each Texas win would shift momentum toward the Rangers. Not something to mess around with.

Sanchez Rocks

GO JONATHAN SANCHEZ! GO GIANTS!!

Listening to the comments of the analysts, you’d think that Bochy has thrown Sanchez and Bum to the wolves. Let’s prove them wrong two more times and take Texas in Texas.

Just One Before I Die

D.H. In the 8 hole, that’s kind of amusing.

Here’s something even more amusing (work with me here)

The line up…in a sunflower seed eating contest: (speaking of hypotheticals)

Andres Torres vs Ron Washington.

Seriously, I’d pay money to watch this. I’ve never seen anyone tear into sunflower seeds and talk at the same time at such a furious pace as these guys. Did you see Washington in the bottom of the 8th in game 2? Amusing!

The Giants are playing with killer instinct, a sense of urgency, and as tomorrow nights first pitch thrower would say-excellent “strategery”. Go Giants

diehardan

Todd, that would be no…

VR

ESPN has been completely biased against Giants as well. Only Jim Caple and Jason Strack has been writing good stuff about Giants. East coast pigs like Rob Neyer can’t stand Giants success. If you read his articles you will know what I mean.

GO GIANTS!!!!

Miss Cleo

Sandoval inning-ending 4-6-3 ground ball double play!

Sanchez surrendering 3-run bomb to the #9 hitter!

That’s Giants Baseball!

Truth Detector

Wellemeyer might get a half share or a quarter share or an eight share(if there is such a thing)…

Ralpharoo

i was a cheerleader in college….yay team!!

Shades of 54

In that atmosphere against a hot pitcher I thought the G-Men played well. Burrell’s bat looks tired and he might need some rest tomorrow. I say tomorrow they should go with Huff as DH, Ishi at 1B and Rowand inthe OF.

Let’s get one tomorrow and set Timmy up for a close out on Monday.

Go Black and Orange!

Dusty

Rangers have significantly better looking fans, Burrell could be distracted.

Brian

Dusty–I think you’re right–lot’s of talent in the stands!

PNWGiantsfan

Pat is not seeing the ball. I say sit him for a game, and put Huffy in left and Ishi at 1st. But what do I know? GO GIANTS!

What will Bochy really do for sure: Sticks with Burrell
What does he want to do but won’t: Let Panda DH again!

Who pitches game 7 if there is one? Bochy=Sanchy

Boxergar

What happened to all the Bochy and Sabean bashers????

junior_giant

The skys not falling. Relax everyone 1 mistake cost us. The bullpen was nails again. Texas blowing teams out and now they have to scratch and claw for runs and they aren’t very good at that. A 3 run hr was there offense tonite. Not gonna happen again I promise u all that. They were bound to win 1 in their ballpark,law of averages

Mike Souza

Don’t jump ship now people! The GIANTS are still up 2-1. GIANTS4LIFE!!!!

deadbydawn1984

I’m most certainly not jumping ship, but I have been tired of Sandoval’s overrated butt all year and the blind “fans” who think he is a fraction of what he was last year. Awesome double play, btw, and the strikeout. Tonight just reenforced my despise of all things Panda, especially those stupid hats. All Pablo is good for is marketing lame commercials to sell tickets to families who need a friendly face to get them to the ballpark. J. Sanchez has just proven that he can’t handle pressure at all with yet another horrible start in the postseason. At least he didn’t plunk someone and then act like they were the one in the wrong this time. Awesome.